Single Sign-on Information

Blackboard now uses a single sign-on mechanism, locally known as the USCNet Login system, externally known as Shibboleth. The USCNet Login system is shared by many USC sites, including my.usc.edu, and the many applications within my.usc.edu, such as Google Apps at USC, OASIS, Web Registration, and USC Webmail. Signing into my.usc.edu, Blackboard, or any of the Google Apps at USC services automatically logs you into all USCNet Login protected services.

Logging in
You login to Blackboard with the same username and password you would use on email.usc.edu or my.usc.edu. If you haven't activated your account yet, you can do so on the FirstLogin website.

Restrictions
Only currently registered students, as well as USC employees listed as instructors or teaching assistants in SIS may login to Blackboard. For more information, please see Guest Information.

Logging Out
In order to logout of Blackboard, you must completely exit your web browser. On Mac OSX, the browser is not exited and your login sessions remain unless you explicitly exit from the menu bar at the top of the screen or push the exit keyboard shortcut (usually Apple-q). On Windows, the session remains open until the last browser window is closed, or you click on File, Exit.

Logout Explanation
When you log into the USCNet Login system, it opens a session for 8 hours or until you exit all of your web browser windows. This session is valid for all USCNet Login protected systems you have access to. Visiting a different USCNet Login protected system will automatically allow you into that system without entering your password a second time. The Logout button on Blackboard currently doesn't do anything. If it were to log you out of Blackboard, going back to any page within Blackboard would automatically log you back in without needing to enter your password again because of your existing USCNet Login session. It would theoretically be possible to have Blackboard log you out of USCNet Login and all USCNet Login protected systems, but that would be counter-intuitive because Blackboard should not have the ability to log you out of unrelated services. Exiting your web browser closes all sessions for USCNet Login and its protected services.

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